Small yet cosmopolitan Vaasa is tucked away within one of the Baltic Sea’s rarely explored arms, the Gulf of Bothnia, which is shared by Sweden and Finland. This off-the-beaten-track destination is fringed by the entrancing Kvarken Archipelago, a pristine UNESCO World Heritage site composed of around 5,600 picturesque islands formed by the melting of Europe’s continental ice sheet over 10,000 years ago. Dotting the countryside around Vaasa, discover delightful wooden windmills painted in vibrant shades of red. In town, explore an array of absorbing museums and architectural gems including the 19th-century Gothic-style market, where friendly vendors offer the region’s tantalizing delicacies.
